Tajinder Singh struck an attacking half-century before Shamar Springer and Alzarri Joseph held their nerve in the final over to guide the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons to a two-wicket win over the Jamaica Kingsmen in the 2026 Caribbean Premier League opener.
The Falcons successfully chased 168 at the Arnos Vale Stadium in Kingstown, reaching 168 for eight from the final delivery in the first CPL match ever staged in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Tajinder anchored the chase with 62 from 37 balls, hitting seven fours and one six. He shared in the rebuilding effort with Tim Robinson, who made 40 from 30 balls, after Evin Lewis was dismissed for six.
Rahkeem Cornwall contributed 24, but the match tightened as the Falcons slipped from 128 for four to 159 for six. They began the final over requiring six runs, only for the Kingsmen to claim two wickets from consecutive balls and leave the visitors needing two from the last delivery.
Springer managed to dig the ball towards wide long-on, where Rovman Powell moved forward to collect it. However, the Kingsmen captain fumbled under pressure, allowing Springer and Joseph to scramble the decisive second run.
Springer ended unbeaten on seven from five balls, while Joseph finished on one. Keemo Paul led the Kingsmen’s bowling with three for 29, while Andre Russell took two for 34 and Hunain Shah collected two for 38.
Earlier, the Falcons won the toss and elected to bowl against the CPL’s newest franchise.
The Kingsmen raced to 55 for one in the powerplay, powered by Reeza Hendricks, who struck 28 runs from one Karima Gore over. Hendricks had earlier been dropped by Usama Mir, but the bowler gained revenge when he dismissed the opener for 42 from 25 balls.
The innings then lost momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals. Powell played a captain’s knock of 47 from 37 balls, including two fours and three sixes, but received limited support through the middle overs.
He was caught at long-on off Joseph in the 19th over while attempting another six. Paul added a rapid 16 from six balls before being run out, helping the Kingsmen close on 167 for seven.
Joseph was the Falcons’ most successful bowler with three for 34. Mir returned one for 17 from four economical overs, while Seales took one for 19. Springer went wicketless for 36 from his four overs.
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